A Hamas security official said the strike hit a car that belonged to the group's interior ministry driving east of the town of Rafah. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

In a statement, the Israeli military confirmed the strike, saying it targeted "two terror operatives" — a man suspected of planning an attack against Israeli civilians and one accused of selling weapons.

The latter was killed in the strike, health official Ashraf al-Kidra said. The other victim was a Hamas security officer tasked with securing smuggling tunnels along the border with Egypt.

Al-Kidra said another person was wounded in the strike. It was not clear if the injured man was the second operative identified by Israel.

Israel and Gaza's ruling Hamas fought a three-week war in 2008. Since then, violent flare-ups have occurred occasionally between Israel and militant groups operating in the Gaza Strip.